Traction vehicle



Weaaea:

June 17, 1930. Y. SPEAR ET AL 1,764,902

TRACTION VEHI CLE Filed Aug. 2, 192a G'She et'S-Sheet l Jime 17, 1930. L.,Y. SPEAR El Al. 1,764,902-

TRACTION- VEHICLE Filed Aug. 2; 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 pu f/22% June 17, 1935'.

Y. SPEAR ET AL TRACTION VEHICLE 6 Sheets-Sh eet Filed Aug. 2, 1926 w \N%\ N fguza. WW

June 17, 1930. sPEAR ET AL TRACTION VEHICLE Filed Aug. 2. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Jun 17; 19.30. Y. SPEAR ET AL.

TRACTION VEHICLE 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 2, 1926 k fawrgngYSpear June 17, 1930. L, Y sPEAR'E-r AL 1,764,902

TRACTION VEHICLE Filed AuggZ, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 17, 1930 Lawnnncn x. en-nan AND .GEGI'L a2. .cnULKrNs, forH1\ TEw ro vnon, CONNECTICUT, AssIcNons rrc GENERAL onmmncn GORPOBA'JJION, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A. COR- POR ATIQN OF NEW YORK rnnerroiv VEHICLE Application filcQ AugustlZ, 192G; Scfiia 1 I;Io.'126,518.

Our invention relates to tract-ion vehicles and more particularly to an improved steermg and controlling mechanism therefor.

VVh ile the particular embodiment which we shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings is especially adapted for use with'a vehicle of the general type shown and described in Gregory GfDavison Patent No. 1,560,0l3, November 3, 1925 it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such use, but may be employed in all similar work.

The invention contemplates an improved mechanism for controlling the movement of the vehicle in a novel, simple-and convenient manner and for turning and changing the direction of movement of the vehiclequickly, conveniently and easily notwithstanding relatively heavy loads and varying ground conditions. "By the use ofour invention the vehicle may be turned as'desired'oreven completely reversed by the power derived from the motor. The control of the turning and-reversing mechanism.may be through the usual hand or steering wheelof'the vehicle or by means of reins or a line. The

invention makes the tractor moresuitable for use with agriculturalimplements and better adapts the same to such other uses to which it is placed. Clutch elements are employed between the driving motor and the tractor wheels and these are controlled by the hand or steering wheel'or. by reinsor a line as already pointed out to direct the tractor quickly to either side. a When the'clutch elements are released the application of power for the purpose of steering or'reversing the vehicle is disconnected'and the vehicle assumes its normal straight ahead course. Where the steering application is to the drive or-traction wheels of the Vehicle as it is in the embodiment selected for illustration the mechanism is adapted to turn said wheels to reverse the direction of movement of the vehicle. Exceedingly quick and sharp turns are'ma'de' possible and themanipulation of thevehicle is better adapted to the uses to which it is put and conditionstowhich it is subjected. a i The mechanism of our invention is simple and compact in construction its operation is simple, efiective and easy, it can be provlded at a-comparatively low cost and can be easily installed. Itis alsoconveniently acce'ss'ible. I

Certain structural features of our invention are novel and important, and aremade the subject matter of someof the appended claims. i

In the drawings: i I

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a tractor embodying the invention.

F Fig-1. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of 1g. .7 V h Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 8'3 of Figure 4:. y Fig. 4 a horizontal section on line 4-4 of F ig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical detail section on line 541301": Fig. F Fig.6,is a similar section on line 6-45 of Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view ofa tractor embodying a modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view partially in section of the steering takeoff connection shown in Fig.7, and

Figl Fig. 7. I

In the embodiment of the invention shown in'Figs'. 1 to 6, the tractor is generallyof the type shown and describedin theco ending application of Gregory G. Davison, S er. No.

398,134 filed July 22, 1920, whichhas resulted of the wheel stock. Wheels 82 are driven or rotated about a horizontalaxisto drive the vehicle, a motor 85 suitably mounted upon main frame T5, and turn laterally with wheel 9 is a vertical section on line-9-9 of motor 85 is provided with a clutch 86 and the I forward end of engine clutch shaft 87 is rotatably journaled in a bearing 88 at the main frame end of'arm 7 6. A driving chain 90 I I drivingly connects shaft 87 with a substantially parallel unidirectionaldriving shaft 92 journaledat one end i i-bearings carried by the flared gear encasing portion of head 80 and at the other end in a bearingcarried by arm 93, projecting from arched arm 76. Chain 90 which is preferably of. the silent type is trained about a'relati-vely small sprocket 93 on shaft 87 and a relatively large sprocket 94 on shaft 92 providing a, substantial speed reduction from; shaft 87 Vto' shaft 92; An adjustable idler sprocket 95 meshing with chain 90 is provided for taking up slackin the chain as desired.

l-ligh and low speed bevel driving pinions 97-98 loosely mounted uponshaft 9 2, are in constant mesh withhigh and low speed bevel driving gears 99 and 100, respectively,

fixed upon-the upper end ofa shaft .101.

Shaft 101 extends vertically throughand is rotatably journaled in wheel jstock or post 78. A shipper or sleeve 97 fixed upon shaft 92 against rotationrelative thereto is slidable longitudinally therealong to connect the high orlow speed pinion 97 or 98 toshaft 92 and secure a corresponding speed of the tractor as desired. A relatively small bevel pinion 102 fixed upon the lower end of shaft 101 mesheswith and drives av relatively large bevel gear 104 fixed upon axle 81 and thereby the drive wheels 82 through said connection. Yoke 78 is enlarged at 105,below. head .80 and serves with a separate lower portion 106 clamped or otherwise secured thereto, to encasethe driving connections between shaft 101 and xle 81. A thrust bearing or washer 108 is arranged between the loweredge :of head 80 and the top of enlarged portion 105 of yoke 78. w w v Fixed upo the upper revolvably mounted end of pos tTor wheel stock 78and encased in "the encasing portion 116 of head 80 is a steering worm gearllO, between which and post .7 8 a thrust washer or bearing 112 is arranged. The upper end of' shaft 101 is journaled in" a bearing 114 interposed between the upper counterbored-end of post 7 8 and the depending hub of bevel drive gear 100. The upper enlargedencasing portion 116 of head 80 is providedywith a lateralpocket" 117 through which a: worm shaft 118 is arranged. and ,j ournaled adjacent-its ends in bearings mounted inrt he'walls of the enlarge d portion of head 80. HSh aft'118 ispr'o Vided with .a steering worm' 120 which engages -or meshes with worm- Wheel 110 fixed;

on post 7 8. ,Shaftf118is .alsol'jprovided with a sprocket wheel c121 fixed thereupon. A

124 projects upwardly from arm 76 and serves withside walls 125 to encase or house the steering take-off connection from drive shaft 92. Shaft 122 is 'providedwith a V sprocket wheel 126 fixed thereupon, and a link b'elt chain '127 trained around sprockets 121 and 126 connects shafts '122 and 118.

t Loosely mounted on shaft 122 are a pair of opposed cone clutch members 128-129. Fixed upon the projecting hub of cone clutch member 128 is a gear 130 which meshes with a gear 131 fixed upon shaft 92. Fixed uaon the projectinghub of cone clutch mem er 129 is a sprocket wheel 132 and a suitable chain 133 trained about said sprocket wheel 132; and a' sprocket wheel 134 fixed upon shaft 92 drivingly connects shaft 92 and cone clutch member 129.

A clutch sleeve or shipper 138 is splined, keyed or feathered upon clutch shaft 122 for longitudinal movement between, cone clutch members 128, 129. 1 The splined or feathered connection between sleeve or shipper 138 and shaft 122 permits longitudinal movement of the sleeve along the shaft, and at the sameitime prevents relativerotation therebetween. Clutch sleeve 138 is recessed at its opposite endsand provided, with internal conical surfaces 140-141 for cooperation or frictional engagement-with the external-conica'l surfaces of cone clutch. members 128' 129.- The respective conical" surfaces may be lined and covered with friction'material as shown in Fig. 2. This is not essential, however, I find, for example, that by making the shipper 138 of a softer material, such as brass, for example, the'desired frictional engagement is bad. It will now be apparent that shifting of shipper 138 to frictionally engage internal'conical surface 140 with cone clutch memberr128 connects shaft 142 for rotation by cone-.clutch member 128, and that shifting of shipper 138 tofrictionally engage surface 141 with'cone clutch member-129 connects shaft 122 for rotation by,

said coneclutchmember 129. yShipper 138 has a, neutral position between clutch mem A clutch shifting yoke 150 engaging in an annular groove in the periphery of shipper 138 and pivoted at- 152 to a lug 154 carried by arm 76 is provided for shifting shipper 138 along shaft 122 asadesired." Clutching of pa ted to S m e @1 91. easy s eehhe" and. fiwersuw 9i the veil ab u its" h f to mate/me,dime iml, olgp sihe that f v siletfifc,92!v O mching: of: lufichmemhe; 1 o h ift 22 auses r ta sln sa d h 'f-fh in he same direction; a sheit; T e- 1:19pm end of yo e 1 0 is1;iv.o ;lycghn ctesl 5 h the d o a: ngitudinally r d 158,, which. nod exmn sba-ck; hhro gh. .4: nd'ie s ide ly nolmt d at; is oppeeiile h i11 an opening nbo s pr jeht hg i hm- Apa -"Q awnsl zkrlfih ehh i Whihh QQ-lhR T S n upp. 16.5. ar pivoie t 16 1167 1291 b reqkeh memb h-l fiunounte uphn en 7 1 67 .58 tends be w en th lumen l w r i eecl fif the levers L H L61 ehd; Pl'QYh d with ble k. lZQ' mL up n ame an e g e- 'ng, etwe n. levers l 62- .1c1;l ;3- The 2% en 0i leve is. l 2y-l63v re Wilflfififi Emit rehly by l xi le lines, 17 57 ,71 respe tiv ly, a h ug r ds, 0.17 @theL: suita le 9mm.- ti l emay i QurSQ be mphmedflzq e pivqte l le er hl fil fih lf 18 Said ihee lZ J in 'Qh Qthd l ough shite le qo he ter 1 .2 with. leve 19. hmm ihe id s, of. h i termediate piy iel' imming 5 of sai level: 199 ma ning liehheh 186 whi h w nti g mekeh si. thi p'ht it flllhl hr tanc wanted 11pm he 11 i ht frames; 18.8 n Wh h-the l9 h uht e I the per iculer t ecto z hew 84; 90

sq n we 1 1. sp zing 12 whichextendi rea wa d-1y 011 frame Th 1l i iml$ th ea 1? the. ear? qfi'the t zecthx Whfih the operat is With n er ty me e Qfi the ehhr le lled ere. he sen ea ily adjust, plpws. and other p mehfie whi h he ma e drwih behh of he Ee 'qultimtihe, the seat be ptzsi iq ed' even the lieclietpr t9 P m rea y hehtr l e lmqhh fuhwd w Qf'the tiastor e iit hQlYWhQQS lihdiehhr e rehged; the @h l ew 3.5

an h mmunli eti etweeh and ng n is bad thrqugh I QQh wtiP-h A ue hehh. s ihdi ehed; a 1. 4% eed. l9,5.- ,49

' designate braces betWeeIi arm 76, mai

and axlefremes 188.

Flam. he fweeQ h i will h e pa I h that Whhhthflshihlae; 1, 38 in. the? Resieh whf hw w l h m rete ph mah l 11 ehdj l vehi l n h hi he ahead 11.19%- mene, B. thrn he the sing e eqet hl ired, e desi dhh nfi member t h d Q hwte e shafts 2 dlB a d urn, th Wh A sh rp huh ewe 311016 w h a e hhc q ihlheee B er 1:64, hde 19m h ll m 0 the mph e1" e hk 7. .3 2119 21 the wheel S eel; hhygllglighh" .hyhugh this cle i. e. though a c omplete 360 i sfper mitte c l.

In the embd hmehh own n F gu es '2, 8 e

and 9, the cembined driving Mid: iteelihg w vh eels 5, ofthetragc p1 are capriedby an axle (not shown) mouiited in the yolgeop wheel stock 6. The uppe t. end (if yokeor Wheel 1 110911 6, is journelec in a bearing head 7 qt theend ofthe arched fml ne sectipn 8, As ef h nt re y ke ms ery r; Whee SW1; with thewheels 5 and axlecepryingtlgeeeme i a ap e to he r e ab ut: t we; axis of this journal to steer t heveh;ie1eq1 ;1ge verse the direction ofmovemelep pfthekseme, he main dr ing e; P1in,e =Q lL s x d p h l a r ed; by Qh hee hk hh meshes w h. f vi P i iQ LQ fix d uphhth ow e o e. r i a ermed ate i ing ha t 0 arran d xial hmgh t e m mber s h wn- I i th t ugh we 0:4 .12ere lhg; a 9:19; that," he rive ra t ed l h la el gv htmduchhh thewheels5, f A h riz t n r ed ate dh shg h h: l1:- iour led i ea 2, l3 and 1 Wh y the ed imm e hi n 8, driv efmm he ng n 1' m tor of the vhih thr ugh d iv g cha n Or e uih hl drivin ,21? her n a ed n uita le a ng h he 7 61 55 5 o mof r (n t shipwn)" i$ l hrehh h. d i e ste h h worm eer 20- Ihe Provi ion hr ih o1: e -Q ving-t h steeymg head (:3 y'ppwer Q el yhd fli h, li mqtm: BEE-3.11.1.6 the s ablut hvshe fi 2 (Eighth ran ed. Rafe- 1d t h fil .1 an i m d' eh s oipposite ends h hea ing memhe eac of which is h f ihfil h hhhhh h m mber 3 me mt ed e an wrig t h ih nhmh h r he fIhm S hQn 8: A pair Q 5 @95 fi h mem e 2 25 ar he el hseunted up nt e haf 21,. The p ie tli ig hhb Port n ref-th he ri ii a s rqhk l them d 35, 5 th a emh hebwhel QQne l 1'. .t.. h hhmhelf 2. w ee 1, A Qhhih Z spr ch h Wheel 2 n 3 fi ed 1129 hah 1. remiss the cone du ch m m r 24 Qhhinueuel chw h hth'ti h if ft 11 h; h ame irhhfiihh inwhi hshefi 1.1 i ,1? te eg I h e The p i 'h eqhihg huh p-o tiqh i eohe lut h me hhe rzh arrie e 1 ea 29 Whihh we paring heed f the hi le wmp iw in gear 29 meshes with a spur gear 30 fixed upon shaft 11.

' 29-30 drive cone clutch member 25 in a diet 44, carried by the'chassis or running gear.

rection opposite to the direction of rotation of shaft 11. Clutch member 25, like clutch member 24, is rotated continuously during rotation of shaft 11. i

A clutch sleeve or shipper 32 is splined or feathered upon shaft 21 for sliding longitudinal movement between cone clutch members 24-25. The splined or feathered con nection betweensleeve 32 and shaft 21 permits longitudinal sliding movement of the sleeve along the shaft, but at the same time prevents relative rotation therebetween. Clutch member 32 is provided'at its opposite ends with internal conical'friction surfaces 33 and 34 adapted for co-operation or frictional engagement with the external conical surfaces of cone clutch members 24-25 respectively. Clutch sleeve 32 and internal conical friction surfaces 33 and 34 are so proportioned that when the sleeve 32-occupies a central position between the clutch members U 24 and'25 as shown, there will be no frictional engagement with either of said clutch members, allowing the clutch shaft 21 to remain idle in spite of rotation of the clutch members 24 and 25 in opposite directions.

A clutch shifter yoke 35 is provided for moving sleeve 32 longitudinallyalong shaft 31to bring either the internal conical surface 33 into engagement with the clutch member 24 or the internal, conical surface 34 into engagement with clutch member 25 to clutch either of the rotating members 24 or 25 to the clutch shaft 21 to rotate the shaft in the desired direction. Clutch member 24 rotatin 'in the same direction as shaft ll upon beingclutched to shaft-21 will cause. it to rotate likewise, while clutch member 25 rotating inthe opposite direction upon being clutched to shaft 21 will set up rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction. Coiled springs 36 between the clutch members '24 and 25' and sleeve 32 normally maintain sleeve 32 in its centralor neutral position. Shifter yoke 35 is pivoted within its length as shown at 37 to a bra'cketinember 38. The lower end of yokej35 is pivotally connected to the end'of a longitudinally movable steering clutch rod 40; This rod 40 extends back through a guide 41 and carries a clutch op eratingscrew 42 engaging in a clutch operating nut or internally threaded hub ust forward of a steering wheel mounting brackframe ofthe vehicle; Rotation of, steering wheel'45 threads screw 42- intoeor from nut 43 with the result that rod 40 islshifted l'on-Q gitudinally in a corresponding direction to swing the yoke member 35 about its'pivot37. This pivotal movement'of yoke. 35 moves sleeve 32 along shaft 21 to clutch either the clutch member 24 or the clutch member 25 These two interineshing gears V meshing with. said worm gear,

thereto dependin of course upon the direction of rotation of the steering wheel 45.

A steering shaft having driving connection with a worm 51 through a universal joint 52 is journaled at its opposite end in a bearing bracket 53 mounted upon the arched frame section 8 of the tractor. The opposite ends of the worm itself are supported in arms 54-54 extending from the head 7 of the frame section 8. A driving chain 55 trained over sprockets 56 and 57 fixed upon clutch shaft 21 and steering shaft 50 respectively rotates the shaft 50 in the same direction in which the shaft 21 is rotated, which direction is, of course, dependent upon which of the clutch members 24 or 25 the shipper 32 is in engagement with. Steering worm 51 engages or meshes with steering worm gear 20 fixed upon'the yoke or wheel stock 6, so that upon rotation of shaft-50 yoke member 6 will be correspondingly rotated to turn the driving wheel 5 about the axis of the yoke member to steer the tractor. Reversingof the tractor may be had by a 180 rotation of the steering head about its vertical axis, although, of course, this is really immaterial insofar as the present invention is concerned. Bearing bracket 23 at the main frame end of shaft 21 is braced by bracing member '60 extending diagonally (Figure 9) between it and bracket member 53.

In view of the foregoing description and the explained operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, it is not be lieved thata' particularized description of the operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 7 8 and 9, is necessary;

The combined driving, steering and reversing wheels need not be at the forward end of the tractor. The description of one end as the forward end an'dthe other as the rear is simply to completely describe the particular embodiment shown. The various parts of the tractor may bereversed andinter changed within the scope of our present invention. r

We claim: a

1. In combination, a main frame having a bearing head, a wheel frame having. a hollow spindle rotatably mounted in said. bearing head, a wheel associated with said wheel frame, a worm gear fixed'upon said wheel frame,'asteering shaft provided with a worm a drive shaft, a normally idledriven shaft, a pair of driving members on said driven shaft, drive means between the drive shaft and said driving members for driving saidmembers in opposit'edi'rections, a sprocket chain connecting said driven'shaft t 'said steering shaft, means for fixing. either of said members upon said drivenshaft to'ro'tate the steering shaft ac cordingly, a second driven shaft projecting through said spindle, a bevel gearvon each end of saidsecond driven shaft, a gear fixed to'said wheel meshing with one of said bevel gears, a driving gear mounted on said drive shaft, meshing with the other of said bevel gears, and control means for fixing said driving gear upon said drive shaft to rotate said wheel. 7 1

2. In a. motor vehicle, the combination of a frame, a hollow wheel stock mounted to turn on a vertical axis in said. frame, a worm wheel fixed on'said wheel stock to turn same therewith, a driving motor, a uni-directional drive 7 shaft driven by said motor, a clutch shaft having a pair of clutch elements driven in opposite directions by said drive shaft, a generally horizontal power steering shaft having direct driving connection at one end with said clutch shaft and a steering Worm at its opposite end meshing directly with said worm wheel, means for selectively connecting said clutch elements with said gear fixed to one drive a second drive shaft mounted in the hollow clutch shaft, a bevel of said wheel stock substantially along the I elements, a gear and a sprocket fixed on said axis of rotation of said wheel stock and having gear connection with said first drive shaft, and a second bevel gear fixed tosaid second drive shaft meshing with said first bevel gear.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a frame, a hollow wheel stock mounted to turn on a vertical axis in-said frame, a driving member fixed on said wheel stock to turn same therewith, a driving motor, a uni-directional drive shaft driven by said motor, a

clutch shaft in substantial parallelism with a said drive shaft and having a pair of clutch drive shaft, a second gear fixed on one clutch 1 element and meshing with said first gear, a

second sprocket fixed on the other clutch element, a chain belt connecting said sprockets,

a generally horizontal power steering shaft having direct driving connection at one end with said clutch shaft and a driving member at its opposite end meshing directl with the driving member on the wheel stoc and means for selectively connecting said clutch elements with said clutch shaft.

i In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 27th day of July, 1926.

LAWRENCE Y. SPEAR.

CECIL P. CAULKINS.

Wheel of the vehicle, 

